Leveling means for vehicle bodies



July 20, 1943.f P. o. KROGH 2,324,587

I LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed July 51, 1941 s ann-sheet 1 July 20, 1943. P. o. KRoGH LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed July 51, 1941 6 Smets-Sheet 2 July 2o, 1943;

' P. o. KRoGH LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE BODIES .Filed July :51,- 1941 Sheets-Sheet 3 ...Bim .65:3 952i..

w num N@ P. O. KROGH LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed July 31, 1941 F4 1 :n E.

July 20, 1943. 2,324,587

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 li- IMIIJL 45 INVENTOR- @zh/,

BY @wem/@ ATTORNEYS, v

July 20, 1943. P. QKROGH'- 2,324,587

` LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed July 51,'1941 e sheets-sheet 5 July 20, 1943. P. o. KRoGH LEVELING MEANS FOR VEHICLE ODIES e sheets-sheet esy Filed July 51, 1941 Patented July 20, V1943` LEVELING MEANS FOR` VEHICLE BODIES Peter 0. Krogh, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Superior Coach Corporation, Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio f Application July 31, 1941, Serial 4No. 404,931

24 Claims.

This invention relates to leveling means for use in vehicles, and is particularly intended for A.use in connection with hearses to level the bodies thereof to facilitate placing `caskets therein or removing themtherefrom. Thepresent application 'is iiled as a continuation in part` of my application Serial No. 333,798, led May `7, 1940, now abandoned.

` The object of the invention is the provision of a novel,n simple, efiicient and easily controlled leveling means of the character described, which is operable to uniformly raiseone side and lower the other side of a vehicle body a predetermined extentwithin limits relative to the chassis wheels and then to return the parts `to normal position.

Arfurther object of the invention is the provision of a leveling means of this character which is normally free from operating connection between the vehicle body and chassis axle, or `IbetWeen'the levelingand power source therefor, and has controlled means for veffecting a positive mechanical` connection therebetween to render the leveling means operative.

A further object of the invention is the provision of al leveling `means lof this character which is manually controlled "to effect a raising of one side or the other of a vehicle body during a; leveling operation and is automatically controlled 'to stop such action when a predetermined leveling limit has been reached.

A `further object of the invention is the provision in combination with a leveling means of the character described of a reversible electric drive motor therefor, and a control for said motor selectively operable to eiect a driving of the motor in one direction or the .other a desired extent Vfor leveling and `automatically operable to stop such action when a predetermined limit has been reached, said control being also operableto drive` the motor in` a direction to return the parts `to normal position, k l

Further objectsand advantages` of the` invention will beapparent from the followingdescrip-` tion, and from the accompanying drawings,` in which-- f e `Figure f1` is a fragmentary 1sectional "detail taken' lengthwise of a `vehicle and at one side of the leveling` means j embodying the invention, with parts inidiagram;` Fig. 2 is a1 fragmentary plan viewthereof, with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 3 ,is a fragmentaryelevationl on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away and parts in full; Fig. 4 is a section on the `line 4-4 in Fig. 3;` Fig. 5 is a workingudiagrarn of the electrical wiring and parts; Figs.`,6,7 and 8 are section on the line II-II in Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2

Y showing still another modification of `the con.-

trol means for the `jacks, which includes clutches on the shafts with the jack pinions; Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on the line I3f-,I3` in Fig. 12, and Fig. 14.y is an enlarged section on the line I4-I4 in Fig. 12 witha part in full.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a longitudinal frame member, `2 the rear axle and 3 one of the rear springs of a vehicle chassis, and 4 the floor of a body mounted on the chassis frame. vThe leveling means embodying the invention is rigidly suspended in any suitable manner from the under side of the body I or from the chassis frame, or both, and is adapted to have connection with theaxle 2 at or to each rear spring 3.

The leveling means in its present embodiment includes an electric motor IIJ of the reversible type, a speed reduction gearing disposed in a case II Vand interposed between the drive shaft I2 of the motor and a driven shaft I3. 'Iliislatter shaft extends `into a case I4 -containing a set of bevel gears including a bevel drive pinion I5 on the shaft and opposing bevel gears I6, Il, driven thereby in` opposite directions. The motor I0, the reduction gear case II, and the bevel gear case I4 are mounted on a bed plate I8` suitably suspended from the body 4 or chassis frame I lengthwise thereof, preferably at one side of its 1ongi`` tudinal center. e e

`The bevel gear case I4 iscapped by a crosschannel member 20 extending at eachend to near the respective side of the fl'oor 4. The member 20 is rigidly secured in `any suitablemanner; to e the `vehicle vbody orY the chassis frame to `have movements therewith. Extending'from the respectivegears I6 and II out beyond said caseare respective right and left driven shaft sections 2| and 2z. Each shaft section has at its inner end a bearing in aside of the case I4 and at its outer end a bearing in a respective hanger 23 secured to and depending from the under side of the I member 2U.

A jack is interposed between each shaft secadjacent' tion 2l, 22, and the respective end of the axle 2. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to i each of such jacks includes a rack pinion xedly mounted on each shaft section E l, 22 near its outer end and meshing with a respective rack-bar 25, which is guided and retained in mesh therewith by a yoke 2. This yoke is loose on the shaft section in straddling relation to the pinion and preferably has one or more rollers at its outer side in engagement with the back edge of the rack-bar. The lower end of each rack--bar 25 is mounted ior lengthwise sliding movements in a respective guide block 28 that is anchored to the axle 2. In the present instance the guide block has a swivel connection 29 with the axle through the spring pad 30 to which the member 3l carrying the swivel pin is iixed by welding, or in any other suitable manner.

Each rack-bar 26 and its guide block 28 are normally free for relative sliding movements and are coupled together by a pin 33 when it is desired to render the jackoperative and to effect a leveling action. The couplin'gpin 33 constitutes or is an extension of the movable core member of a respective solenoid 34, the case of which is mounted on a side of the respective guide block 28 with the pin transverse to the longitudinal axes of the rack-bar and block. The p-in 33 works through a side opening in the guide block and when projected, by an energizing of the solenoid, engages into a registering one of a series of holes provided in longitudinal spaced order in the rack-bar. It is apparent that the pin 33 moves into the iirst hole 35 which registers therewith after an energizing of the solenoid, thus render- ,I

ing the jack operative by coupling the rack-bar and its guide block together, so that an actuation of the rack-bar will eiect av positive raising or lowering of the respective side of the vehicle relative to the axle depending on the direction of movement of the rack-bar. The directio-n of driving of the motor shaft, due to its bevel gear set connections with the shaft sections 2l, 22, determines which side of the vehicle is raised and which lowered. In this co-nnection it willy be understood that the coupling or rendering operative of both jacks of a set is simultaneous so that the operation of one jack effects a raising of its side of the vehicle body, while the operation of the other jack effects a corresponding lowering of the other side of the body. The coupling pins 33 of the solenoids are spring retracted so that when the solenoids are deenergzed and the binding stress of the jack members 25 and 28 thereon is released, upon a return of the vehicle body to normal position relative to the chassis axle, the pins will be retracted to release their coupling connections.

The shaft section 22 in the present instance carries three cams Nos. l, 2 and 3, which automatically control certain phases of the electricalcontrol operations, as hereinafter described. These cams are noted in the diagram (Fig. 5) as Nos. 1, 2 and 3 cams.

The electrical control for the leveling means includes a main leveling control Switch 45, in the present instance of the double-throw single-pole type, and two single leveling switches 46 and 41, which latter are selectively closed when it is desired to raise the right or left sides, respectively, of the vehicle body.

This control also includes three automatic switches 48, 42 and 50 associated with and operated, respectively, by the cams Nos. 1, 2 and 3. The center control switch 43 is of the singlepole type and is open when the cams are in neutral or at-rest position, and is closed when cam No. l is moved slightly in either direction from neutral, due to the roller on the switch arm dropping from the high point a on the cam.

The differentiating control switch 49 is of the single-pole double-throw type and its cam engaging roller is on the intermediate portion d of the cam when the cams are in neutral or rest position, as shown in Fig.V 5. This switch does not have a neutral or open position, but is in closing relation either with the line GT or the line RT, except when shifting from one to the other. The associated cam No. 2 for the switch portions b and c, each approximately 180 in length, one forming a high and the other a low surface on the cam. This cam also has an intermediate portion d between the cam portions b and c at the starting end thereof and substantially centrally upon which the switch roller rests when the cams are in neutral or atv-rest position. When the cam No. 2 is turned in clockwise direction, the switch 49 is operated to close the GT circuit in which the left leveling switch 41 is disposed, and when turned in counterclockwise direction the switch 49 is operated in Yclose to'RT circuit in which the right leveling switch 46l is disposed.

The limit control switch 50 in association with No. 3 cam is normally closed and is'only opened when the switch roller passes 'from the long low arc portion e of the cam to the shorter high portion f thereof when the cam has nearly reached a half revolution in either direction from neutral or rest position.

' The wiring employed includes three major circuits, one a coupling and pilot light circuit (Fig. 6), another a leveling circuit (Fig, 7), and still another a return circuit (Fig. 8), the rst and last of such circuits being controlled primarily by the main switch 45. v

The coupling and pilot light circuit includes the two solenoids 34, 34, one for each jack of the leveling means, a pilot light switch Elin association with each solenoid, and a pilot light 62, preferably red. When the handle of the main or leveling control switch 45 is' moved to the left, it closes the supply line RNT with the two solenoids 34-through the line RBT, thereby ener# gizing the Asolenoids to effect a projection of the coupling pins 33 to couple the jack members. The movement of the two solenoid `cores also effects a closing ofthe two pilot light switches 6| to close the signal line BC, which is connected to the supply line RNT.

The return circuit (Fig. 8) is also controlled by the main switch 45, as' a movement to the right of the handle of such switch 45 opens the solenoid operating circuit RBT, thuspermitting a retraction, by spring action, of the solenoid actuated coupling pins and a consequent opening of the switches 6|. At the same time the 'circuit is ,closedV between -the supply line RNT and the automatic switchline RC in which the central control switch 48Y is located. While the switch 48 is open whensthe cams are in normal or at-rest position and the leveling means is inactive, it is closed immediately upon the cams commencing to rotate, and when closed it closes the' connection between the RC line and the mov'- able vmember of the switch 49 through the line N, andr also closes the connection between theline RC and return pilot lightV 65 (preferably green) through the line N'.

1 .The leveling circuit (Fig. 7) includes lboth vthe right and the left leveling switches 46, 41, the

automatic limit control switch 50, which is operated by the cam` 3, and the clockwise and icounterclockwise contactor coils 68, 69, `respectivelyof the motor. If, for instance, the op# erator desires for leveling purposes to raise the right side of the vehicle body, he presses the switch 46 to close the circuit between the `lines `RGC and RT, the former being in connection with vthe supply line RNT through the interposed `limit Icontrol switch 50, which is normally `:closed and is only opened when the associated Vcam No. 3 has moved in either direction to limit position andthe switch roller has passed.'` onto the, high portion f of the cam. The switch 46` is also in circuit through the line RT with the `clockwise contactor` 0011,68 of the-rinotor. VIt is 4thusapparent that whenv the switch;46 is closed, `current flows.,v `from the;v source through the nor mally closed f-limit` switch 50 'and clockwise contactor coil 68 to effect a driving of the motor ,inV `clockwise direction, which is the same direction that the cams Nos. l, 2 and 3 are then being turned. `This action of the motor causes operation of the right hand jack 26, 21, 28, to raise such side of the vehicle body relative to theaxle, and operation of the left hand jack to` correspondingly lower that side of the body relative tothe axle. `This leveling action continuestuntil the body reaches level position, when the operator releases the leveling control switch 46 or until al limit leveling position is reached, at which point the roller of the limit `control switch 50 has passed onto the high portion j of the cam No. 3

and eiects an automatic opening of the switch 50 and a consequent opening of the motor circuit. When itis desired to raise the left side of the :vehicle body `in a leveling operation, `the left levelingsw'itch 41 is closed and the operation is the same as takes placewhen the right switch 46 is closed, except that the left switch (Fig. 7) `is connected through the line GT with the counter` clockwise contactor coil 69 of the motor, thereby causing a` driving of the motor in counterclockwise direction and 'a corresponding driving of the cams. "The switch 41 has the sameRGC connectionwith the limit control switch 50 as the switch 46. v

The return circuit (Fig. Vs), which is for the purpose of effecting a return of the parts tolnormal position, aftern a leveling operation hasbeen the return circuitiFig. 8), the latter being.

closed through theswitch connection of thesupply line RNT with the line RC. It Will be understood that at this point in the operation the ass ccicttcdl `cahis Nos. 1 and 2 will he cut cf their neutral for at-rest positionsV shown .in Fig. 5, with the roller ofthe switch"48 on thelow portion of lighted as soon as the RC line is closed through the main switch 45, and also that if the right side of the bodyf is up and the switch 49 thus closed to the line GT, the switch line is thereby closed to the counterclockwise control coil 69, thereby causing a reverse operation of` the motor to that imparting the leveling connection. As soon as the parts, by this reverse action, have been moved to neutral or at-rest position,.the short raised portion a of the cam No. 1 will have moved into engagement with the roller ofthe switch 48 and effected `an opening of such switch and a consequent opening of the return circuit, notwithstanding the main control switch 45 remainsin `closed relation to the line RC. `It is apparent that if the left side of the vehicle body, during a leveling "operation, is raisedjby a counterclockwise action of the motor, the roller of the switch 49, by reason of its travel on the high portion of the cam No. 2, will effect a closing ofthe switch line with the line RT, which is in connection `with the clockwise contacter coil of the motor, so that the motor will be driven in clockwise `direction to return the parts to normal position, and that when such point is reached the center control switch 48` will be opened by the roller passing up on the high portion a of the cam No. 1. i

It will be understood `that during the return operation, no current passes through` the limit control switch V5!! because neither of the contact leveling switches 46 or 41 are closed. It will further be understood that the lines RBT and RC, which connect with the main control switch 45, cannot be simultaneously electrically connected to the current source. i

It is apparent from the foregoing that when a leveling operation is r desired, the operator throws the main control switch 45 to the-.left (Fig. 6), thereby closing the coupler and pilot light circuits `(ENTR-RBT) to effect anengagernent ofthe jack couplers and to indicate by the pilot light 62 that such engagement is` eifected. The next operation is to press either the right or left leveling switch 46, 41 (Fig. '1),`

depending` on the side of the vehicle body it is dcsired to raise for leveling purposes. This action closes the supply line circuit RNT to either the clockwise or counterclockwise contacter coils `i',

69 of the motor to effect a driving of the ,motor in the desired direction, andwhen the desired heightrhas `been obtained, the operator releases the switch to stop `the `motor `action vand cause the .vehicle body to remain `in leveled position. If the leveling switchis4 not released before the leveling limit isreached, the motor lcircuit Y coupler solenoids 34, so that the ,coupler pins itscam and with the roller of the switch 49 on Y .either thelow or high portion of its cam, de-

may return by spring action to their released positions as soon as the` strain of the coupled jack parts has been relieved therefrom. `When this action is effected, the pilot switches 6| `are ,opened thereby cutting oir the current vto the solenoid pilot light 62. The switch 45 whe'r thrown to the right also closes the supply circuit (RC) to the automatic switch 4B (now in closed position) and through the switch 49 to the proper one of the contacter coils 68, 69 of the motor to effect alowering operation.` WhenVthe `parts have reached normal position during this re# turn action, the high point aon the No. 1 cam will have moved into engagement with and ef- `fected an opening of the center control switch 48 to out ofi' the current supply to the motor.

In Figs. 9 to ll, each of the jack units comprises a single-piece rack-bar l5 which is swivelly connected at its lower end as at l5 to the spring pad Si) and has its upper end swingable into and out of engagement with the jack pinion 25 by the action oi a solenoid 'il which when energized is operable through toggle links i8, 'i9 to move the rack-bar into operating engagement with the pinion. The outer end of the toggle link lll is pivoted to a bracket Si! projecting down from the floor while the cuter end of the companion link i9 is forked to straddle the rack-bar and carries a roller which operates in a slide 8l in the rack-bar. The rack engaging end of the link lil is swingingly supported by a link 82 suspended from the oor il so that the line of thrust of the link on the rack-bar at all times substantially intersects the axis of the pinion. A spring a3 acts on the solenoid plunger to normally hold the solenoid plunger' projected and the toggle It, IQ broken, with the rack-bar l5 held in released position, as shown in Fig. 10. When the solenoids Tl, T are energized, the rack-bars 'i5 of the two jacks are thrown into mesh with the respective pinions 25, so that the jacks are rendered operative and caused to effect a leveling action. of the vehicle body when the pinions are reversely driven. It will be understood that the solenoids "il take the place of the coupling solenoids 313 in the i'lrst described form of the invention and are controlled in the same manner as described for the solenoids Sil.

In Figs. l2, 13 and 14 is illustrated a form of jack unit wherein the rack-bar and pinion of each unit are in permanent engagement, and the coupling means, to render each jack unit operative or inoperative, is disposed between the respective drive pinion and the power source. In the present instance, each of the pinion driving shafts, here designated 2Ia and 22a and corresponding with the shafts 2| and 22 of the first described forms, is divided into an inner section a, adjacent to the power source, and an outer section bi, which latter iixedly carries the rack pinion. In each shaft Zia, 22a, between its respective sections a and bf, is disposed a normally disengaged clutch 85, the movable member of which is connected to the plunger of a solenoid 86 and thrown into engagement with its companion by an energizing of the solenoid. In the present instance, the plunger of each solenoid 86 is normally retracted by a spring 8l and has connection with the movable member of the clutch through a shipper lever 88, as well understood in the art. With this form of jack control the two solenoids 86, 86 take the place of the solenoids 34, 34 of the first described form, and when energized effect an engagement of the respective clutches to render the jacks operative instead of rendering such jacks operative by a coupling of the rack-bar members as in said rst form.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it i's capable of numerous modications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims and that the term chassis as used in the claims excludes the frame l which constitutes a xed part of the vehicle body.

Having thus describedcmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire toV secure by United States .Letters Patent, is: l l

l. In a vehicle body leveling means, a jack hav ing separate parts for connection respectively to a vehicle body and chassis axle and normally l.disengaged for free relative movements, means operable to couple said `jack .parts together to render them effective as a jack, means operable to actuate the jack to raise or lower thev'con- Vnected portion of a vehicle body with which associated relative to its chassis Naxle when the `jack parts are coupled together, said last means including a rotatable element, and means actuated at a predetermined point in a rotation of said element to limit the Aaction ofsaid jack operating means.

2. In a vehicle body leveling means, a jack having separate parts for connection respectively to the body and chassis axle of a vehicle and nor'- mally disengaged for free relative movements, means electrically operable to couple said jack parts together to prevent relative movements thereof, and electrically controlled means operable to actuate the jack to raise or lower the connected portions of a vehicle body relative to its chassis axle when the jack parts are coupled together.

3. The combination with an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a leveling mechanism for the body including a reversible shaft carried by one of said vehicle elements, a drive pinion thereon, a rack-bar in mesh with said pinion and normally disconnected from the other of said vehicle elements, means operable to connect the rack-bar to the other of said vehicle elements, and means selectively operable to drive the pinion in one direction or the other to move the rack-bar to raise or lower the body relative to the axle after a connection of Vsaid rack bar.

4. The combination with an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a leveling mechanism for the body including a reversible shaft carried by one of said vehicle elements, a drive pinion on the shaft, a rack-bar in mesh with the pinion, electrically controlled means operable to connect the rack-bar and the other of Vsaid vehicle elements, and means selectively operable, after a connection of the rack bar, to' drive the pinion in one direction or the other to cause a variance in the eective length of the rack-.bar and its connection between the body and axle whereby to raise or lower the connected portion of the body relative to the axle.

5. The combination with an axle and the vspring supported body of avehicle, of a leveling mechanism including a reversible pinion carried" by one of said vehicle elements, a bar interposed between and connecting said pinion and the other or said vehicle elements said bar having two slidingly engaged parts, one of said parts comprisinga rack-barinl mesh with said pinion, means operable to couple said bar parts together, and means operable to selectively drive said pinion in one direction or the other to actuate the bar to raise or lower the connected portionV of the body relative to the axle when the bar parts are coupled.

6. The combination with an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a leveling mechanism for the body including a jack at each sideV portion of the body, each jack having separate relatively movable parts connected respectively to the body and axle, means operable to couple the parts of yeach jack together torender leach mais fr the vehicle body andfaxle" at'op'po'site sid'esl of the longitudinal 1 center line of the vehiclegfeach jack f having -separate relatively-movable parts permitting lfreeunrestricted movements of the body and axle towardand away from `each other, means operable 1`to couple said'parts together to prevent such relative movementsg'andmeans conL nected to one `of said partsof each jacht and operable to impart simultaneous reverse'move`` ments thereto when` theparts c are coupled to effect a'raisingof one side and a `lowering ofthe otherl side of the body relativeto the axle.

i `8. Thecombination with an axle and thelspringvv supported body'of a vehicle,v of a leveling mechanism for the body including at each side` there-i` of a jack having "aj rack-barirriember,v means electrically operable" to"simultaneously `couple each rack-bar'member to oneofsaid vehicle elements, and electrically controlled" means carried by the other `of said vehicle elements andl operablez to actuate said `rack-bars simultaneously in fre@- verse directions to effect a raising ofV one side and a lowering ofthe other side of the vehicle body relative `to the axle when said `coupling means is engaged.

` 9; The combination with an axle andthe spring supported body oi a vehicleof aleveling mechanism forthe body including a rackbar at each side of the vehicle, means operableto couple each rack-harto the axle during leveling operations, electrically controlled means 'carried bythe `body and `havingdriving connection with saidV rack-Ql bars to simultaneously raise oneand lo we`r`tl"1e`A other and impart corresponding movement to the respective side of the body relatiyectothe axle when the bars are coupled to the axle,means` for" selectively` driving `said last means in lone direcc tion or the other, and means automatically oper? able to stop the driving action of said last means,Y when the jacks have been` operated ja predeeV termined extent. c v l l0.` The combinationv with an ,axle `and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a mecha?,

nism for leveling the bodyf` relative to the axle including twojacks one at each `sideportion of spring supported body of a vehicle, cfa leveling mechanism for the body including a normally inoperative jack connecting the body and axle adjacent to onerside thereof, a coupling means for Athe jack to render it operative, means including a reversible electric motor for operating the jack to raise or lower the connected portion of the body relative to the axle, manually controlled electrical means for actuating the jack coupling means to render it operative, and a leveling control circuit for said motor including manually controlled parts selectively operable to actuate the jack to'raise or lower the connected body` `portionrelative to the axle. l

Y i2. The Yombinanon A with ai; @nel 'and die spring supported bodyof al vehicle, oi Qa" leveling mechanismfor the body includinga` normally inoperative jack connecting the "body and axle adjacent to one side thereof, a coupling means for the jack to vrender it operative, means inf cludirig ai reversible electric motor for operating the jack to` raiselor lower theconnected portion oftheloody relative to the axle,`1na`nually`con# trolled electrical means forg actuating the 1jack coupling means to' render'itoperative; avleveling"- control circuit for said motorincluding partsfse-l lectively and"'manually operabletoV actuatefthe jack when coupled to `raise or lowerthe connectedbody portionl relative to the faxle, and a return; control circuit including parts which whenthe` circuit is closed-automaticallyselect the returnf direction of drive of the motor and also"partsfior` automatically opening 'the circuit i and *stopping e the return'action when `the `body is returned to predetermined position relativeto the axle. `M Q f13l The combinationwith'fan axle and the spring supported body of` a vehicle, of aleveling` mechanism for the body including two normally inoperative `jacks connecting the `axle anitbpdgwf one at each-` side :portion l thereof manually trolled means operable to render both jacks open- Q1` ative,` driving means operable:y to "simultaneously drive the jacksto eiiecta raising of vone sideand `Ta lowering of theother side of ,the bodyand vice 1 versa, a reversible electric motor in driving (yon-5f` nection withV said driving-means,` and "control,l means for the motor circuit including means", manually operable to` effect a selectivedriving Loef. the motor in `one `direction or the other toQlevel. the body and automatically operable to stopfj the driving action whenthe jacks have been operated a predeterminedextent, saidcontrol mearisf` e also havingprovision to cause aldrivingfcftljie "motorfto return the body from leveling jtofnormal position and* to automatically selectthe proper,

direction of `drivingfor the purpose."

V1,4."1'11@V confirmation` with. an ameland die" spring supported body ofy a vehicle, `of a jackin terposed betweensaid axle andbody atone side thereof said jack having parts normally [disconV-A,

ative,` a manually controlled freversible drive meanshaving connection withsaid 'jack to` effect f a lengtheningor shortening thereof when the drive means is driven in one direction or the other and when the jack parts are coupled together, and means automatically operable to stop said drive means when a predetermined limit in a lengthening action of the jack has been reached.

15. The combination with an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle,` of a jack interposed between said axle and body at one side thereof, means operable to render said jack operative to connect said axle body to raise the body, and a manually controlled reversible drive means for operating said jack to raise or lower the body relative to the axle when the jack is in operative connection therewith, said drive means having a rotatable part, and means automatically operated by said part at a predetermined point in a rais` ing action of the jack to stopthe driving action of the drive means thereon.

16. The combination with `an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a jack interposed between said axle and body at each side thereof and having normally disconnected parts permitting unrestricted free relative movementsl of the axle and body, manually controlled electrically operated means for effecting a coupling of said parts, and manually controlled means selectively operable to actuate either jack, when coupled, to raise the connected side of the bodyl and lower the other side andtostopsuch action at will.

17. The combination with an axle andY the spring supported body ofV a vehicle, of a jack interposed between said axle and body at eachside thereof and having normally disconnected parts permitting unrestricted free relative movements of the axle and body, manually controlled electrically operated means for effecting a coupling of said parts, manually controlled means selectively operable toA actuate either jack, when coupled, to raise the connected side of the body and lower the other side and to stop such action at will, and means automatically operable at a predetermined body raising point of either jack to stop the jack operating action of said jack actuating means.

18. -The combination with an axle and the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a jack interposed between said axle and body at one side thereof and having normally disconnected parts permitting unrestricted relative movements of the axle and body, electrically operated coupling means for said parts, a manually controlled operating circuit for said coupling means, a reversible electric motor, a manually controlled electric leveling circuit for said motor operable to actuate the motor to effect a body leveling action of the jack when coupled, and a manually controlled electric return 4circuit for the m-otor operable to actuate the motor in a reverse direction to return the body to normal position relative to the axle.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein means is included in connection with lthe Y leveling circuit to automatically open such circuit and stop the motor whenv the body has reached a predetermined position.

20.` An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein means is included in connection with the parts permittingV unrestricted relativemovements of the axleand bodyy-electrically operated cou-l pling means for each of said jacks to render it operative, a manually controlled operating circuit for said coupling means, a reversible electric motor, a manuallycontrolled electric level circuit for said motor operable to actuate the motor to effect a body leveling-action of the jacks, whenv coupled; a manually: controlled electric return circuit for the motoroperable to actuatethe moe torv in' a rever-se direction to'return the body to normal position relative to the axle, and means in'` bar in meshing relation and the rack bar having,

two relatively sliding sections one engaging the pinion and the otherconnected to the axle, manually controlled means for coupling said rack bar sections together to render the-jack operative, a reversiblefmotor carried byxthe'body Vfor driving said pinion in one direction or the other-,to operateV the jack to rai-se or lower the body relative to the-axle when the bar sections are coupled, `and manually operable control means for the motor,v

23. Apparatus in accordance with claim: 22, .together with means having a part turning with the pinion and operable to automatically stop the motor when a predetermined raising or lowering of the body by the jack has been effected. f

24. The combination with.Y an axle andV the spring supported body of a vehicle, of a. leveling mechanism for the body including Aa jack con- Y necting the-body and axle adjacentto-one side.v

thereof 'and havingV normallyV disconnected parts, meansnoperable-to connect the jack par-ts, means for selectively operating rthe jack when itsparts are connected to raise or lower the connected portion of the body relative to the axle, means automatically-operable toA stop operation of the jack at a predetermined point in a body raising or lowering action thereof, and means operable to actuate the connecting means for the jack parts to disconnect such parts and to return the jack parts and body to normal positions after a raising, or lowering thereof. A

Y PETER O. KROGH..

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION llauansem: No; 2,524,587.; f Y July 2o, 19M.

PETER` O KROGH.

It is hereby certified that error ap'pers intherprintecl specification fof the above mlmbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, seclond,- column, line 27, for 1'in close read to c1ose; page 5,. second co1- line 61.1., -c1aiJn4-l5, after the wordA "axle"' insert --alld--S and that the Esaid Letters .'Patent should 'oe read with this correction therein that the' `same may conform to the record of'the case in the Patent Office.

` s1getaf1 il seared. this ith'aay of August, A. D. 19M.

` .Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal)` Y Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

